Keep A Mold-Free Home In The Orlando Area

Jan 3, 2013

Orlando’s warm climate certainly has its advantages, but there is one downside: high humidity that encourages mold growth in our homes. Keeping a mold-free home is important not only for appearances, but also for your health and your home’s structural integrity. Mold spores irritate your respiratory system, while uncontrolled mold growth can rot your home’s structure.

If you’ve noticed moisture buildup, mold or mildew in your home, or you want to prevent them from developing, try these simple steps for a mold-free home:

Control condensation: The single-pane windows popular in Florida often collect condensation. This moisture can seep into the window casings and walls, where it encourages mold growth. Wipe off condensation regularly. Consider installing Energy Star-qualified windows, which resist condensation and help control your energy costs.

Install a dehumidifier: Air conditioners and even ventilation systems aren’t enough to control humidity effectively. For lower humidity, install a whole-house dehumidification system in your HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system.

Check your return air paths: Sufficient return air ducts, transfer grilles, and jump ducts let your system bring conditioned room air directly back to the air handler. Many homes have only one or two paths, which can lead to a pressure imbalance, moisture problems, and higher cooling and heating bills. If you suspect your home lacks return air paths, consult an HVAC technician to find a solution.

Get A/C savvy: If you’re in the market for a new air conditioner, choose one with a variable-speed blower and enhanced moisture removal capability. Correct sizing is also essential because an oversized air conditioner doesn’t control humidity well.

Set it right: Set your A/C fan to auto instead of on. A fan set to on runs continuously, which increases your home’s humidity.

Use a programmable thermostat: Program your A/C for 74 degrees from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. for optimal moisture removal during the day’s coolest hours. For the rest of the day, keep the thermostat at 85 degrees.

To get more pro tips for maintaining a comfortable, mold-free home while controlling your energy expenses, contact us at Rinaldi’s Energy Solutions. We’ve been providing top-quality HVAC care around Orlando since 1969.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Orlando, Florida and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about keeping a mold-free home and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.